Safe Space Allies Organization

Contact email
Who do you work with?

Our organization supports male sex workers (LGBTQI+ and general population), key population refugees, and people who use drugs. We provide advocacy, harm reduction, healthcare access, and human rights support, ensuring their safety and well-being. We also collaborate with partners, allies, and service providers to strengthen support systems.

How are sex workers involved in your organisation?

Sex workers are actively involved in our organization as leaders, peer educators, outreach workers, and advocates. They shape programs, inform policies, and provide community-driven solutions to improve healthcare, rights, and safety. Their lived experiences ensure our interventions are relevant, inclusive, and impactful in addressing their needs and challenges.

Which of NSWP priority areas does your organisation work on?
Oppose the criminalisation and other legal oppression of sex work and support its recognition as work
Critique the trafficking paradigm that conflates representations of sex work, migration, and mobility
Advocate for universal access to health services, including primary health care, HIV and sexual and reproductive health services
Speak out about violence against sex workers, including violence from police, institutions, clients, and intimate partners, while challenging the myth that sex work is inherently gender-based violence
Oppose human rights abuses, including coercive programming, mandatory testing, raids and forced rehabilitation
Challenge stigma and discrimination against sex workers, their families and partners, and others involved in sex work
Advocate for the economic empowerment and social inclusion of sex workers as sex workers
What are the two main challenges that the sex workers you work with face

The main challenges faced by sex workers we work with are stigma and discrimination, leading to social exclusion, violence, and limited access to services; legal and human rights violations, including arrests and harassment by law enforcement; and mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, caused by the stress of their work and marginalization. These challenges hinder their ability to live freely and access vital services. Our organization addresses these by providing advocacy, healthcare, harm reduction services, and mental health support to ensure the safety, well-being, and empowerment of sex workers.

Describe other areas of your work

In addition to supporting sex workers, we focus on advocating for LGBTQI+ rights, providing harm reduction services to people who use drugs, and helping refugees within key populations. Our work also includes capacity building, policy advocacy, healthcare access, and raising awareness to combat stigma and promote human rights for marginalized communities.

Region
Country
Malawi